Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Fifth National Security Cutter Delivered To Coast Guard

As a national security cutter, James features a flight deck and hangar space, stern cutter boat launch, and advanced command and control technology — all of which will support its execution of complex law enforcement, national security and defense missions. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

June 5, 2015 - The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the fifth national security cutter, James, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, today. James’ commanding officer and crew took custody of the cutter from the shipyard, making the ship an official Coast Guard asset.

James is scheduled for commissioning this August in Boston, about 20 miles from the hometown of cutter namesake Joshua James, who saved more than 1,000 lives during his 60-year lifesaving career, first with the Massachusetts Humane Society and then with the U.S. Life-Saving Service. Coast Guard Cutter James will be the second NSC stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, alongside Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, which was commissioned in December 2014.

NSCs provide open-ocean patrol capabilities for complex law enforcement, defense and national security missions. They are 418 feet long, can operate in the most demanding maritime environments, and have a range of 12,000 nautical miles and endurance for 60- to 90-day patrol cycles. The NSCs are replacing the 378-foot high endurance cutters, which entered service in the 1960s.

The sixth NSC, Munro, is under production and scheduled for delivery in 2016. Fabrication of the seventh NSC, Kimball, began Jan. 22, 2015; the cutter is scheduled for delivery in 2018. The Coast Guard awarded a contract option for production of the eighth and final NSC in the program of record, Midgett, March 31, 2015.